Power-producer.



PATENTED SEPT. 8, 1903.

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0. E. WAXEL.

POWER PRODUCER.

APPLICATION FILED JUNE 25, 1902. NO MODEL.

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PATENTED SEPT. 8, 1908.

0. E. WAXEL.

POWER PRODUCER.

APPLICATION FILED JUNE 25, 1902.

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No. 738,264. v PATENTED SEPT. 8, 1903.

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POWER PRODUCER. APPLICATION FILED JUNE 25, 1902.

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POWER PRODUCER.

APPLICATION FILED JUNE 25,1902.

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No. 738.264. PATENTED SEPT. 8, 1903. 0. E. WAXBL.

POWER PRODUCER.

APPLICATION FILED JUNE 25, 1902. NO MODEL. 8 SHEETS-SHEET 6.

m: NORRIS PETERS w. vnoTc-Llmm, WASHINC'KJN u v No. 738,264. PATBNTEDSEPT. 8,1903.

' 0. E. WAXEL.

POWER PRODUCER. APPLIUATIOX FILED JUNE 25, 1902.

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PATENTED SEPT. 23, 1903.

O. E. WAXEL.

POWER PRODUCER.

APPLICATION FILED JUNE 25, 1902.

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N0 MODEL.

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UNITED STAT S Fatented September 8,

OLE E. WVAXEL, OF OAKLAND, CALIFORNIA.

POWER-PRODUCER.

srEcrEIoArroN forming part of Letters Patent No. 738,264, datedSeptember 8, 1903. Application filed June 25, 1902. Serial No. 118,179.(No model.)

TOILLZZ whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, OLE E. VVAXEL, a citizen of the United States,residing at Oakland,

in the county of Alameda and State of California, haveinvented a new anduseful Power- Producer, of which the following is a specification. I

This invention relatesto certain improvements in power-producingdevices, and has for its principal object to provide mechanism wherebyany available power may be utilized for effecting the gradualcompression of air, the mechanism employed being of especial value forutilizing the weight and pressure of water supplied from any source orfor utilizing the pressure of water flowing through airtight pipesleading into or from reservoirs or where water is transmitted throughpipes from one place to another for any purpose.

In carrying out my invention I employ the power obtained from thewater-pressure or other source in gradually compressing air, allowingthe compressed air to cool, and then recompressing it or reducing itsvolume, meantime employing the air for the purpose of transmittingmotion to suitable operative devices the kinetic and potential energiesof which are afterward utilized for transmitting motion to otherconnected and operative mechanisms which in turn are used in thesuccessive recompressions of the air until the latter has obtained thehighest degree of compression possible from the initial source of power,after which the air is permitted to expand and its energy utilizedpartly in operating the compression mechanism and partly for the drivingof any suitable connected machine or mechanism which maybe employed toutilize the energy.

In carrying out my invention I employ a specially-constructedwater-wheel which receives an initial impulse under the pressure andweight of water and drives the apparatus. This initial power is thenemployed to compress air or other fluid, the air passing betweensuccessive compression -cylinders and its flow and to some extent itspressure being utilized to impart motion to a series of connectedmechanisms which receive motion at a greater or less speed in accordancewith their positions, the various elements of the apparatus beingmutually connected, so that .lar view on the line 5 5 of Fig. 2.

motion imparted at a high rateof speed to one or more of such elementswill be transmitted to parts of the mechanism operating at a slow rateof speed, and vice versa.

A further object of the invention is to so arrange and connect thevarious portions of the mechanism that those elements about to impartmotion to other connected elements will receive from other connectedelements of the apparatus an impulse or movement which will materiallyassist the operation and render the working of the apparatus more steadyand uniform.

With these and other objects in view the invention consists in the novelconstruction and combination of parts hereinafter described, illustratedin the accompanying drawings, and particularly pointed out in theappended claims. I

In the drawings, Figure 1 is a side elevation of an apparatusconstructed in accordance with my invention, portions of the apparatusbeing broken away in order to more fully and clearly illustrate theconstruction. Fig. 2 is a plan view of the same. Fig. 3 is an endelevation of the device, drawn to a somewhat larger scale. Fig. 4 is alongitudinal sec tional elevation of a portion of the mechanism on theline 4 4. of Fig. 2. Fig. 5 is a simi- Fig. 6 is a sectional plan viewof a portion of the mechanism on the line 6 6 of Fig. 5. Fig. 7 is adetail sectional view, on an enlarged scale, illustrating theconstruction of one of the air-driven wheels employed at a number of thepoints in the apparatus. Fig. 8 is a sectional elevation of a portion ofthe same on the line 8 8 of Fig. 7, illustrating particularly theconstruction of the clutching mechanism employed. Fig. 9 is a sectionalelevation of the preferred form of initial power-wheel which it isproposed to employ, the section being taken on the plane indicated bythe line 9 9 of Fig. 2 and drawn to asomewhat larger scale. Figs. 10 and11 are detailed views of the construction of the water-wheel, and moreparticularly referred to hereinafter. Fig. 12

is a sectional elevation taken on the line 12 12 of Fig. 13 andillustrating the construction of one of the weights the potential energyof which is transmitted to a revoluble wheel at the right-hand end ofthe mechanism shown in Fig. 2. Fig. 13 is a plan view of the weight.Figs. 14 and 15 a re detailed views of an escapement mechanism employedfor the transmission of alternate movements of a rotatable cam to areciprocating element of the apparatus. Fig. 16 is a detail view of aportion of the mechanism for transmitting impulses at comparatively highspeed to normally slowly moving elements immediately before the energyof the latter is to be utilized. Fig. 17 is a sectional plan view of aportion of the mechanism, more particularly referred to hereinafter.Fig. 18 is a detail sectional view of a portion of the mechanism, drawnto an enlarged scale. Figs. 19, 19*, 20, and 21 are views of details ofconstruction.

Similar nu merals of reference are employed to designate correspondingparts throughout the several figures of the drawings.

15 designates a base or bed plate, at one end of which is a framecomprising opposite standards 17 and side frames 18, which may be of anysuitable size, in accordance with the capacity of the apparatus. In thestandards 17 are arranged bearings for the support of twotransversely-disposed shafts 19 and 20, each of which is provided with asprocketwheel 21, the two sprocket-wheels being connected by a link belt22. At a central point between the two shafts and in a horizontal planetherewith is arranged a shaft 23, having a gear-segment,moreparticularly referred to hereinafter, for imparting motion to the shafts19 and 20 and any-excess of energy which one may receive beingimmediately impartedto the others.

The shaft 19 is the initial or primary shaft of the apparatus, and onsaid shaft is secured a water-wheel comprising a circular body portionor piston 26 of the construction more clearly illustrated in Figs. 9,10, and 11. The periphery of the pistonis'divided into a seriesof teeth27, in each of which is formed a V-shaped slot 28 forthe reception ofthe bearing-'pintle 29 of a folding bucket. Each bucket comprises a mainbody portion 30, curved on a line corresponding or concentric with theperiphery of the piston and provided with side wings 31, the width ofwhich gradually lessons from the front to the rear end of the bucket,thereby fo'rmingan enlarged mouth at the front end for the reception ofwater. The bucket is provided on each side of its central line with apartition 32, extending transversely of the bucket between the siderings and the teeth of the piston, and it will be noted on reference toFig. 10 that these teeth taper gradually from a sharp edge near thefront of the bucket to a comparatively broad rear end, in which isformed the slot for the reception of the bucket-pintles.

The piston is disposed within a circular casing 35, ,the center of whichis eccentric to the center of rotation of the shaft 19, so that thepassage below the piston will be larger than that above it. The lowercentral portion of the cylinder 35 has an opening 36 communieating withan enlarged chamber 37, the lower edge of which is open and is disposedwithin a tank or vessel 38 in such manner that its lower edge will be atrifle above the bottom of said tank and below the water-line of thetank, the water-line being formed by a suitable overflowpipe, or thetank may remain full at all times and the water flow over the top edgethereof. At one side of the cylinder 35 and communicating therewith bymeans of a connecting-pipe 39 is a water-tank 40, in which and in thecylinder a constant waterline is maintained by means of float 41,connected by an arm 42 to a valve 43 and a water-inlet pipe 44,communicating with the cylinder, the communicating-pipe 39 beingarranged at the surface ofthe water and any excessive flow which willtend to reduce the water-level resulting in the opening of the valve 43and the admission of a fresh supply of water, while in the event of therising of the water in the tank the supply will be immediately cut 0E.

When the device is set into operation, the tank 38 is elevated, as by alever 45, until the lower edge of the vessel 36 is sealed against thebottom of the tank. \Vater is then allowed to enter the cylinder, thegoverningtank, and the vessel, after which the latter is placed incommunication with the tank by slightly lowering said tank to its normalposition. The buckets are so arranged that entering water will effecttheir outward movement from the piston against the tendency of thebucket-springs 46, the pressure of water against the buckets serving torevolve the piston at a speed dependent upon the volume and pressure ofthe water. successively pass beyond the bottom opening 36 of thecylinder they will be moved to closed positions by the springs 46. Theescape of water' may be governed by reducing the area of the centralopening 36 or by raising or lowering the tank 38 in such manner as toreduce the area of the discharge, as will be readily understood, or anyother suitable form of water-wheel may be employed for the purpose andsubjected in any desired manner to the action of a volume of water.

On the shafts 19 and 20 are mounted four elongated sleeves or hollowshafts 40, 41, 42', and 43, each being of the construction illustratedin Fig. 17 and mounted on the supporting-shafts by suitable roller orball bear-. ings 44 for the purpose of reducing friction. Each of thehollow shafts is provided at its inner end with a crank-arm 45, and oneach shaft is adjustably secured a radial pin 46, adapted to makecontact with such crank- As the buckets ICO arms, and thereby transmitthe movement of.

wheels and link belt 22 shaft on one side of the machine from eachother,

shafts is mounted a fly-wheel 47, which serves to steady the motion andconserve the energy imparted to the shafts, so that the operativemovements of the latter may be imparted without jar or shock.

. The movementimparted to theintermediate shaft 23 through the medium ofthe sprocketand from certain other sources of energy is imparted to thevarious hollow shafts through the medium of the mechanism moreclearlyshown in Fig. 16.

At a point midway between the shafts l9 and 23, and similarly betweenthe shafts 20 and 23, are arranged two shafts 49 and 50, on each ofwhich is secured two pairs of toothed quadrants 51, said quadrants beingarranged in diametrically-opposing pairs and sodisposed that the pair atthe end of the will be arranged in a plane at right angles to the pairon the opposite side of the machine during certain periods of operation.These quadrants are mounted loosely on their respective shafts'and areconnected thereto by spiral springs 54, which act to return thequadrants to an initial position after each operation. On the shaft 23are mounted two quadrants 55, arranged at an angle of ninety degrees sothat one will always act a quarter of a revolution in advance of theother.

Each of the hollow shafts 4O, 41, 42', and 43 is provided with aquadrant 56, adapted to intermesh each with one of a pair of quadrantson the intermediate shaft, the opposite quadrant of the pairintermeshing with the quadrant 55 on the central shaft On each of theintermediate shafts 49 and 50 is mounted a cam 58, which is secured toand rotates with the quadrants on said shafts, the cams being engaged bylocking-levers 59, mounted on studs 60, carried by the fixed frame, sothat each partial rotative movement imparted to the pairs of quadrantsby the quadrant will result in the engagement of the locking-lever '59with the radial face of such cam, holding the cam and quad rants fromrotative movement under the retractile force of the spring 54. To eacharm 59 is secured a tappet 61, adapted for engagement by a cam 62, onecam being carried by each of the hollow shafts or sleeves androtatingwith the quadrant thereon. The various quadrants are so arrangedthat one of the quadrants on the shaft 23 will always be engaging withone of the pairs of quadrants on one of the intermediate shafts andturning such pairs of quadrants against the action'of itsreturning-spring, and one of such pair of quadrants will at all times bein engagement with one or other of the quadrants on the hollow shaftsand imparting to such hollow shafts an impetus under the retractiveforce of the spring, the various hollow shafts being operated upon insequence and the movement taking place immediately before and during thetransmission of an ima as.)

other and the tappet-lever and spring-held quadrant that the teeth ofthe quadrants will properly intermesh to effect the desired operation.

On each power-shaft is secured a cam 64, such cams being arranged each aquarter in advance of the other and adapted to operate in sequence, theoperative movement of the cams taking place during the transmission tothe hollow shaft of the impetus from the springheld quadrant and theenergy thus transmitted enabling the cam to more properly perform itsfunction.

011 each side of the machine are arranged three cylinders 65, 66, and 67of successivelydecreasing capacity and through which air is forced andgradually compressed and red need in volume, the air as it flows or isforced from cylinder to cylinder being passed through suitable pipes inwhich are disposed suitable wind-wheels adapted to be set into motion bythe passage of the air and to transmit their rotative movements to theintermediate shaft 23, from whence itis transmitted bythemechanismheretofore described to the two shafts 19 and 20 and to the varioushollow shafts. In the cylinder 65 is a piston 68, carried by a guidedpiston-rod, the lower end of which is provided with 1aterally-projectingpins 70, adapted to be acted upon by a pair of levers 71, fulcrumed onpins 72 and provided at their outer or free ends withcounterbalanceweights in which sufficient potential energy may be storedto force the piston from the bottom to the top of the cylinder and tocompress air therein, the lower head of the cylind er and the pistonbeing provided with suitable valves 74, which will admit air to thecylinder on the upstrokeof the piston and on the downstroke of thepiston will permit the passage of the air to the opposite or upper sideof the piston, while the valve and the cylinder-head is closed by thepressure of air below the piston.

At an intermediate point in the piston-rod 69 is a horizontal slot 76,in which is fitted a pin 77 on the end of a lever 78, fulcrumed at anintermediate point to the frame and having its opposite end under thecontrol ofone of the operating-cams on one of the hollow shafts, saidcam serving to move the piston from the upper to the lower positionagainst the action of the counterweights 73 and then releasing the endof the lever and permitting the counterweights to effect the upstroke ofthe piston. In similar manner the piston78 of the cylinder 66 isprovided with a slotted piston-rod 79, which is acted upon in one di-IIO with the piston 78 will start to move the lat ter on the downstroke,the movement being assisted by the air forced from the cylinder 65 tothe upper end of the cylinder 66.

Between the two cylinders 65 and 66 there extends a pipe 83, in which isan air-tight casing 84, forming part of a wind-wheel, the constructionof which is more clearly shown in Figs. 7 and 8.

The casing or cylinder 84 is provided with a centrally-disposed shaft85, having one end adaptedto a bearing in the wall of the cylinder, theopposite end being reduced in diameter and adapted to a bearing in theend of a shaft 87, extending through the opposite wall of said cylinder.The piston-body 88 is rigidly secured to the shaft 85, and on saidshaft. is mounted a clutch-disk 89, adapted for longitudinal movement toengage and disengage with the teeth of a mating cl utch-disk 90, mountedon the shaft 87, the interengaging teeth of the disks being so formedthat when brought into contact they'will automatically interlock. Theclutch-disk 89 is connected by a number of rods 91 to a disk 92, havingasquared orifice through which may pass the squared end 93 of the shaft85, and this disk, together with its connected clutch-disk 89, isadapted to be moved longitudinally on the shaft by the inclined orwedge-like end 94 of a lever 95, which is fulcrumed on a short shaft 96,extending into the interior of the cylinder. The extreme outer end ofthe lever 95 is adapted to be I acted upon by a cam 97, secured to thestem 98 of a valve 99, which controls the passage of air from thecylinder to the cylinder 66, said valve opening automatically under thepressure of air on the upstroke of the piston in said cylinder. As thevalve is opened by the pressure of air the cam or wedge-like end 94 ofthe lever 95 will act on the disk 92, moving the teeth of the clutchingdisk 89 into engagement with the teeth of the disk 90, and thus couplingthe wind-wheel shaft 85 to the shaft 87, the shafts being coupledtogether during all the time air is passing through the pipe 83 betweenthe two cylinders and being automatically disconnected when the valve isclosed by means of a spring 100, extending between one of the side wallsof the casing and the disk 92.

On the plates which form the piston-body are pivoted a number of buckets101, to each of which is secured an arm 102, said arm being so arrangedthat alternate buckets have their arms on opposite sides of thecylinder, but within the casing thereof. On the short shaft 96, whichforms a pivot for the lever 95, is pivoted a roller 103, which engageswith each of the arms 108, if it be necessary to force the bucket out tothat portion of the wall of the cylinder which is formed by the pipe 83to receive an impulse from the air-current, and each lever is soarranged that as the bucket to which it is attached reaches the full outposition it will move the next succeeding bucket half-way out and inposition to be engaged by the air-current and moved to the full outposition. The cylinder is airtight, so that none of the passing air mayescape except through the cylinder-outlet, which forms a part of thepipe 83 and is connected to the upper end of the cylinder 66, and inthis manner the tangentially-directed air-current will be forced acrossthe cylinder from the inlet to the exhaust port and impart an impulse toeach of the buckets in succession.

The shaft 87 extends across from one side of the machine to the otherand is connected to the similar Wind-wheel between the cylinders 65 and66 at the opposite side of the machine, and the clutching mechanismbecomes necessary in order to prevent the waste of power which wouldensue if both wheels were rigidly connected to the shaft and operated byeach other alternately, it being understood from thepreviously-described arrangement of the operating-cams that the pistonsof the cylinders 65 are operated alternately on opposite sides of themachine.

On the shaft 87 is secured asprocket-Wheel 105, which is connected by alink belt 106 to a suitable sprocket-wheel on the intermediate shaft 23,thereby to transmit to said intermediate shaft the rotative movement ofthe wind-wheels.

Between the cylinders 66 and 67 on each side of the machine extends aconductingpipe 107, in which is arranged a wind-wheel 108 of a charactersimilar to that mounted between the cylinders 65 and 66, theconstruction and operation of the device being in all respects similarto that described with reference to the wind-wheel 84.

The Windwheels 108 are mounted on a shaft 109, having a sprocket-gear110, which also is connected by the link belt 106 to the intermediateshaft 23, so that all of such shafts revolve continuously, the fourwindwheels being successively clutched to said shaft in accordance withthe timed movements of the operating-cams and each shaft being operatedalternately by the successive action of the wind-wheels, the energybeing transmitted to the shaft 23 and through said shaft to theremaining portions of the mechanism. The operations take place in suchorder that the movement of a wind-wheel is transmitted through thequadrant mechanism and cams to that one of the hollow shafts having itspiston-actuating cam in operative position, thus serving to assist thecams in performing their function. 8

Each cylinder 67 is arranged on the arc of a circle ofwhich the centeris formed by a rock-shaft 111, adapted to suitable bearings in the frameof the machine. To the shaft at points within the framework and invertical alinement with each row of compressioncylinders and wind-wheelsare secured two arms 112 and 113, the formerof which is provided with acurved piston-rod 114, connected to a suitable piston 115 within thecylinder 67, which when forced downwardly serves to compress the airwithin the cylinder 67. The arm 113 is provided with anantifriction-roller 116, adapted to travel on the upper part of a frame117, which is secured to and reciprocates with the piston-rod 69, saidframe-having a loop 118, adapted to engage at certain intervals with ahook or catch 119 on the arm 113, so as to draw the arm down with thepiston and piston-rod through the operation of one of thehollowshaftcams and to elevate the piston in the cylinder 67, therebeing but little or no resistance to the upward movement of the piston115, owing to the fact that the upper end of cylinder 67 is open to theair. In similar manner the upward movement of the piston-rod 69,underthe influence of the counterweighted levers will,through the frame 117and arms 112and 113, serve to depress the piston 115 in-cylinder 67 andcompress the air therein.

Secured to the rock-shaft 111 at points outside the frame are twoopposing oscillatory levers 120 121, such levers being oscillated withthe rock-shaft and the connected arms and their relative positions beingsuch that on one side of the machine the lever 120 will incline towardone end of the machine and the opposite lever will incline toward theopposite end of the machine, the piston 115 on one side being fullydown, while the piston in the similarcylinderontheoppositesideof themachine will have completed its upstroke. This connection between theoperating mechanisms serves to render the operation of the mechanismsniore regularand uniform, and any slight excess of energy which mayoccur on one side of the machine will be immediately transmitted to themechanism on the opposite side of the machine, the pressures being thusutilized and the operation regulated automatically withoutthe employmentof any auxiliary governing mechanism, while the oscillating levers willin a measure store energy after the manner of pendulums, to bereimparted to the piston-carrying arms.

In order to assist the oscillating-levers during the compression-strokeof the pistons 115, I provide toothed bars 124, having atone endopenings for the reception of the lower ends of such operating-levers,and at the opposite ends are racks adapted to be engaged by toothedsegments 125, arranged on the shaft 20, the segments bcingoppositelydisposed and acting alternately on bars on opposite sides of themachine. The bars 124 are normally supported at a point intermediate oftheir length by suitable antifrietion-rollers and will be engaged by thetoothed segments as the oscillating lever enters the opening at the endof the bar immediately after the passage of the lever beyond a verticalplane while swinging in the direction of the shaft 20. After the segmentpasses beyond the rack-bar the latter will be free to move by gravity toits initial position. The operative movement of the segments is assistedat the proper time by the impulse transmitted to the shaft from theshaft 23 and its connected mechanism.

The various wind-wheel cylinders and compression-cylinders arepreferably surrounded by water-jackets to assist in cooling the air,which is naturally heated by compression, the absorption of the heateffecting a material reduction in the volume of the air, so that it maybe more easily compressed in the successive cylinders.

The air is conducted through a pipe 130 to one or other of a pair ofcylinders 131 and 132, located at the opposite end of the bedplate, andthe pressure there utilized to effect the movement of other connectedportions of the mechanism, which movements are to some extenttransmitted to the initial shafts 19, or the movement of the initialshaft is transmitted to the operated mechanism in accordance with thesupply of power represented by the initial water-wheel or the kineticenergy developed by the moving parts.

The cylinders 131- and 132 are arranged at opposite sides of the base,and in said cylinders are pistons 138, carried by rods 139, the latterbeing guided by suitable rollers 140 on the frame. Near the lower end ofthe rods 139 are secured cups 141, which may be weighted to resist thepressure of air entering below the piston, the weights being such thatthe airpressure will be just sufficient to raise the piston against theweight of the cup. At the upper end of each rod is mounted a sheave 142,over which passes a chain 143, the lower end of the chain passing arounda sprocket-wheel 144, carried on a shaft 145, which finds bearings inthe frame. One of these wheels is mounted on the shaft at each side ofthe frame at a suitable point for cooperation with the piston-rod andthe sheave 142, and the shaft receives motion by means ofa crank 146,connected to a rod 147, the latter being reciprocated in a manner moreclearly described hereinafter. On each chain 143 is secured a metallicrod or bar 143, which practically forms a section of the length of thechain. Through a suitable slot in the .rod 148 passes alifting-finger149, pivoted at 150 to the rod and normally locked by a belt 151 inoperative position. Should the bolt be disengaged from thelifting-finger, the latter is moved to inoperative position by a spring154. The bolt 151 is guided in a suitable lug 155, in the outer end ofwhich is pivoted a lever 156, one end of which is operatively connectedto the locking-bolt and the opposite end of which is adapted for contactwith the under side of the sheave 142.

IIO

157 designates a weight, one of which is situated on each side of themachine and in said weight, and extending from end to end thereof is aslot 158 of T shape in plan View. Near the upper portion of the slot isguided a bar 159, which maybe moved into and out of alinement with theslot, but is normally held in position to close the same by a spring160.

On each side of the apparatus is arranged a shaft 161, on one of whichis secured a gearwheel 162 and on the other a plain wheel 163. Each ofthe shafts 161 is provided with a crank 164, connected by a rod 165 to.a bar 166, guided in any suitable manner and connected to any mechanismor machine which is to utilize the power.

Each wheel 162 and 163 is provided with four spindles 167, arranged atangles of ninety degrees, and on each spindle is mounted an antifrictionroller 168. The spindle and roller are adapted to enter the T-shapedslot 158 in. the weight 157, and the operation of this portion of themechanism may be briefly described as follows:

Air under pressure enters either the cylinder 131 or 132 and elevatesthe piston therein, causing an upward movement of the piston-rod 139 andthe sheave 142. At this time one of the weights 157 is carried by one ofthe rollers 168 in a position illustrated in Fig. 1.

The initial movement causes the finger 149 to enter a slot 169 in theweight. At this moment .the connecting-rod 147 of the crank 146 receivesan inward movement and oscillates the shaft 145 and the wheel 144,causing a sharp upward movement of the chain 143 and elevating theweight 157 to the position shown by dotted lines in Fig. 1. 'During thisupward movement the roller 168 in alinement with the weight will enterthe top of the groove 158, forcingthe spring 160 and the bolt 159 fromlooking position and permitting the roller to pass beneath the bolt, thelatter automatically returning to locking position and hanging theweight on the wheel. This movement on the part of the wheel 144 causesthe weight to be supported during its upward movement by thesheave 142and its attached piston 138 and causes a downward movement of the pistonin its cylinder, the air therein being compressed and forced through avalve 170 to a secondary cylinder 171, common to both the cylinders 131and 132 and receiving air alternately therefrom.

The wheels on opposite sides of the apparatus operate alternately, andthe reversal of the movement takes place when one wheel hasbeen moveduntil its attached weight is in the horizontal plane of the axis of thewheel and the weight of the opposite wheel is at an angle of forty-fivedegrees to such axis. While the weight is free to act and does actpositively to effect the depression of the piston during its upwardtravel, it does not eifect any movement of the wheel on which it is hunguntil on the downward movement of the sheave 142 the lower surface ofthe latter engages with a pivoted lever 156, causing a movement of thebolt 151 to the unlocking position and releasing the carrying-finger 149from the weight.

At the top of the machine there is mounted a shaft 172, carrying afly-wheel 173 and a pinion 1.74, the latter intermeshing with thegear-wheel 162 and the relative diameters of the gear-wheel and pinionbeing such that the latter will be revolved eight times by onerevolution of the gear-wheel.

In order to facilitate the return movement of the weight-raising wheelafter the weight has been delivered, the chain 143 is secured to thewheel at 176, and the periphery of the wheel is recessed at 177 for thereception of a roller 178, which normally is projected beyond theperipheral line of the wheel by a spring 179. During the weight-raisingmovement the run of the chain below the weight will become slackened, asindicated by full lines in Fig. 21, while that portion of the chain onthe opposite side of the wheel will be held taut. When the weight isfully raised, the spring-pressed roller will be in the position shown bydotted lines in Fig. 20, being pressedinto the recess in the peripheryof the wheel by the tension of the chain. When the weight is delivered,the tension on the chain is slackened, and the spring will force theroller out beyond the peripheral line of the chain, altering theposition of the slack to the position shown in Fig. 21.

In the cylinder 171, before referred to, there is arranged a weightedpiston 182, having an upper piston-rod 183 and a lower piston-rod 184,extending out through the top and bottom of the cylinder, respectively,and being guided by suitable antifriction-rollers. In the base of thepiston is a small recess 186, in which fit the ends of two levers 187,pivoted intermediate-of theirlength at 188,'the opposite ends ofsaidlevers being connected one to each of the piston-rods 139. As eachpiston-rod 139 is moved down its connected lever will act on the weight182 to cause an upward movement of the same, and the compressed air willthen enter from the cylinder below the piston 138 to the cylinder 171through the valve 170, causing a slight upward move ment of the weight,the valve closing after the weighted piston has reached the end of itsupstroke.

In order to assist in the upward movement of the weighted piston, theupper piston-rod of the latter is operated upon by an escapementmechanism of the construction more clearly shown in Figs. 14 and 15.

In suitable bearings in the framework are journals for the support of atransverselydisposed shaft 190, having a cam 191 adapted to effect theelevation ofthe weighted piston and the upper rod once during each tworevolutions of the shaft, the latter receiving motion, in the mannerhereinafter described, at a rate of speed double that of the piston.

The upper end of the piston-rod 183 is bent too laterally and isrigidlysecured to a horizontally-disposed bar or plate 193, to which isfulcrumed a secondary plate 104, the connecting-pin between the twoplates being surrounded by a torsion-spring 194, the opposite ends ofwhich are connected to the re spective plates, so that when the springis free to operate it will move the lowermost plate to a position atright angles to that of the upper plate. Such movement isat timesprevented by a locking device 195 between the plates, the arrangement ofsuch locking device being illustrated in Figs. 14 and 15, wherein theplates are shown somewhat separated in order to more clearly illustratethe construction, although it will be understood that in practice suchplates will be arranged more closely together. In the operation of thisportion of the mechanism the cam in r0- tating will by contact wit-h theplate 194 elevate the connected plate 193 and the pistonrod. Oncontinuing the movement and still in contact with the lowermost platethe cam will slightly tilt the plate and cause the disengagement of thecatch, permitting the spring to rotate the lower plate and altering theposition of such lower plate in such manner that on the next subsequentmovement of the cam the latter will merely engage against the side ofthe lower plate and'act to return said lower plate to its initialposition without effecting any vertical movement thereof, the platebeing then in readinesson the nextrevolution to be acted upon and raisedby said cam.

In order to partly raise the weighted piston 182 and allow compressedair to'enter the cylinder 171 at the starting of the apparatus, Iprovide a hand operated lever, 196, fulcrumed at 197 underthe base ofthe machine,

the inner end of the lever being adapted for contact with the lower endof the piston-rod 184. The outer end of the lever is adapted to anotched or serrated locking device 198, by which the lever may be lockedin any desired position to assist in stopping the apparatus whennecessary.

Supported by the framework at a suitable point adjacent to the cylinder171 are two superposed cylinders 200 201, the upper of which is providedwith a piston 202, connected to a rod 203, having a suitable guide orsupport. On the piston-rod is a weight 204, having a central slot oropening 205 (see Fig. 18) for the reception of one end of a lever 206,fulcrumed at 207 on the fixed frame and having its opposite end arrangedunder the shaft 172 and adapted to be operated upon by a cam 208,carried by said shaft. The cylinder 200 is connected by a suitable pipe209 to the cylinder 171, and in said pipe is a valve 210, adapted to bemoved to a closed position when the pressure of air is equalized onopposite sides of the valve by a suitable spring. In the lower end ofthe cylinder 200 is an opening 212, leading to the ports of the lowercylinder 201, said openings being controlled by a valve 213, which isconnected to the valve 210 and is movable therewith, the opening of thevalve 210 causing a movement of the valve 212 to the closed position,and on the closing of the valve 210 the valve 212 will be opened topermit the flow of air from the cylinder 200 to the cylinder 201. YVhenthe Weighted piston 1S2 starts to descend, the piston 202 will start toascend, being moved upward partly by the pressure of air from thecylinder 171 and partly by the action of the cam 208 on the weight 204.When the air starts to fiow through the pipe 209, the valve 210 will beopened and the valve 212 will be closed to prevent any passage of air tothe lower cylinder 201.

In the cylinder 201 is apiston 213, connected by a piston-rod andconnecting-rod 147 to the crank 146 01; the weight-raising wheels.Leading into the cylinder 201 are two ports or passages 215 and 216, oneof which is al ways in communication with one end of the cylinder 201.The travel of air through one or other of the ports is governed by avalve 217, mounted on a pivot 218 and having an arm 219, by which it isconnected to a valvecontrolling rod 220, which extends "parallel withthe piston-rod and is provided with two collars 221, spaced for adistance somewhat less than the stroke of the piston and adapted forcontact by a tappet-arm 222 at each end of a piston-stroke, suitablesprings 223 being placed on the valve-rod between the collar andtappet-arm to take up the shock. In each of the ports 215 216 is avalve224 for controlling the How of air through the port.

Up to this time the air has not been expanded to anymaterial extent, anyexpansion which may have occurred between the successive cylinders beingneutralized by reoompression until the air in the final cylinder of theseries is highly compressed, and in escaping therefrom its expansiveforce is utilized by passing it through a wind-wheel 226, mounted on theshaft 190, such wind-wheel being of a construction substantially similarto that employed in connection with the windwheels between the primarycompression-cylinders and previously described. The air is led from thehorizontally-disposed cylinder 201 to the final wind-wheel through apipe 227, the flow of air being governed by suitable valves 228',arranged within the cylinder 201 and having tappet-arms adapted to beengaged by the piston. It the piston bein the position illustrated inFig. 6 and about beginning the outstroke, the valve with which thepiston is in contact will be automatically closed by the passage of thepiston, so that air entering through the main inlet-port can not escapethrough the pipe 227. As thepiston nears the end of its outstroke itmakes contact with the tappet-arm of a second and similar valve andopens said valve, permitting the air to pass through the pipe 227 towheel to the shaft.

the final wind-wheel 226, the latter having an exhaust open to the air,so that the expansive force of the compressed air may be fully utilized.

In order to keep the shaft 190 rotating at a uniform speed, said shaftis provided Willi a fiy-wheel 230, which is kept in continuous rotationby the successive impulses given to the Wind-wheel 226, the latter whilepractically in continuous motion having an irregular movement, whichrenders it desirable to employ a suitable clutching mechanism which willpermit of the free movementof the shaft and fly-wheel independent of themovement of the wind-wheel. A suitable clutch for this purpose isillustrated on an enlarged scale in Figs. 19 and 19. On the shaft 190 ismounted a toothed wheel 231, with which may engage a series ofpivoted'teeth 232, carried by the hub 233 of the wind-wheel, themovement of the hub in the direction of the arrow causing the engagementof the clutching-teeth and transmitting the movements of the wind- Onthe other hand,should the speed of rotation of the shaft be greater thanthat of the wind-wheel such shaft is allowed perfect freedom ofmovement.

In order to transmit some of the energy of the primary shaft 19 to theshaft 172, both shafts are provided with sprocket-wheels 234:, connectedby a link belt 235.

Where water is passing through pipes from any one point to another, Ipreferably employ as the initial wheel of the series a water-wheelconstructed in a manner similar to that employed between theair-compression cylinders as a wind-wheel, the Water-pressure serving toimpart sufficient energy to all of the connected portions of themechanism to keep them in continuous operation.

While the construction herein described and illustrated in theaccompanying drawings is the preferred form of the device, it is obviousthat various changes in the form, proportions, size, and minor detailsof the structure may be made without departing from the spirit orsacrificing any of the advantages of my invention.

Having thus described the invention,what I claim is- 1. In an apparatusof the class described, the combination with an initial water-wheel, ofa series of alternately-operated air-compression cylinders receivingpower from the Water-wheel, wind-wheels arranged between successivecylinders and adapted to be operated by the air-currents between thecylinders,and aseries of mutually-connected mechanisms havingindependent connections each with one of the wind-wheels, all of suchmechanisms, together with the water-wheel being connected to a commonpower-shaft.

2. The combination with an initial source of power, of a plurality ofcylinders arranged alternately for the compression of air and for theconversion of air-pressure into motion, of a plurality ofcooperatively-connected mechanisms operable and operating at differentspeeds and serving to store the energy of the operating-cylinders to thecompression-cylinders.

3. Thecombination with a frame, ofa'plu rality of revoluble shafts,means for driving such shafts at different speeds, and means forconnecting such shafts for the transmission of the higher speeds to theshafts of lower speed at predetermined intervals,

4. The combination with a pair of air-compression cylinders of difierentarea and provided with pistons adapted for simultaneous movement inopposite directions, of an airpipe connecting said cylinders, and awheel situated in said pipe and operable by the current of air passingfrom one cylinder to the other.

.5. The combination with a plurality of aircompression cylinders ofgradually-decreasing area, of connecting-pipes connecting the cylindersin series, and wheels arranged in said pipes and operable by the currentof air passing therethrongh.

6. In an apparatus of the class described, the combination with a pairof. revoluble shafts, of hollow shaftscarried by each of the revolubleshafts, means for connecting the hollow shafts to the revoluble shafts,means for independently operating all of the shafts, and means forimparting increased energy to the hollow shafts at regular predeterminedintervals.

7. The combination with a pair of shafts, of hollow shafts mounted oneach of the pair and operably connected thereto, air-compressioncylinders, pistons disposed in said cylinders and operatively connectedto the hollow shafts, auxiliary cylinders having airactuated pistonsconnected to the pairs of shafts, and means for storing the energy ofthe air-actuated pistons and for transmitting such energy to the hollowshafts during the operative movement of such shafts on the pistons'ofthe compression-cylinders.

8. In an apparatus of the class described, the combination with a frame,of a pair of revoluble shafts, sprocket wheels and belt connectionsbetween the shafts, a water-Wheel operatively connected to one of saidshafts, an air-compression cylinder,counterweighted levers connected tothe pistons thereof for compressing air within the cylinder, hollowshafts mounted on said revoluble shafts, cams carried by the hollowshafts for moving the piston against the action of the counter weightedlevers, a Wind-wheel operable by the current of air flowing from thecompression cylinder, and mechanism operatively connecting the shaft oftho wind-wheel to all of said shafts.

9. In an apparatus of the class described, the combination with theframe, of a pair of i'evoluble shafts, sprocket-wheels and beltconnections between said shafts, hollow shafts mounted on the revolubleshafts, said hollow shafts being connected to but capable of slightrotative movement independent of the revoluble shaft, an initial sourceof energy connected to one of said shafts, an air'compression cylinder,a piston therein, counterweighted levers connected to the piston foreffecting the compression-stroke thereof, an operating-cam on the hollowshaft for effecting the return movement of the piston, a wind-wheelconnected to the compressioncylinder and operable by the flow of thecurrent of air therefrom, mechanism connecting the shaft of thewind-Wheel to the pair of revoluble shafts for continuous movementthereof, means for storing a portion of the energy of the Wind-wheelshaft, and means for imparting a portion of such stored energy to thehollow shaft immediately before the operation of the hollow-shaft cam onthe piston of the compression-cylinder;

10. In adevice of the class specified, a plurality of connected shafts,a water-wheel and a series of wind-wheels operatively connected to saidshafts, a series of air-compression cylinders between which thewind-Wheels are situated, an oscillator having apiston for forcing theair from the final cylinder of the series, a rack-bar connected to saidoscillator, and a toothed segment carried by one of the shafts andadapted to intermesh with said rack-bar.

11. In a device of the class specified, a plurality of shafts, means forconnecting the same for the transmission of power from one to the other,a plurality of air-compression cylinders of gradually-decreasing area,pipes connecting said cylinders, wind-wheels arranged in said pipes,means for clutching the wind-wheels to the shafts during the operativemovement of said windwheels, and means for automatically disconnectingthe wind-wheels from the shafts when the flow of air ceases,substantially as specified.

12. The combination with a plurality of connected shafts, of an initialsource of energy connected to one of'such shafts, a plurality of aircompressing cylinders, pistons disposed in said cylinders, means foroperating said pistons from the several shafts and for imparting to theoperatingshafts an additional impetus at the beginning of eachpiston-operating movement, pipes connecting the several cylinders,wind-wheels disposed in said pipes, and means for automatically c011-necting and disconnecting the wind Wheels and shafts, substantially asspecified.

13. The combination with a plurality of shafts, of means for connectingsaid shafts, an initial source of energy connected to one of the shafts,a series.of air-compressing cylinders of gradually decreasing area,pistons disposed in said cylinders, counterweights for effecting thecompression-strokes of the several pistons, means for connecting thepistons to the shafts for effecting the outstroke of the pistons, pipesconnecting the cylinders in series, Wind-wheels disposed in said pipesand adapted to be acted upon in alternation by the current of airpassing from one cylinder to the other, and means controlled by thepressure of the air for automatically connecting and disconnecting saidwind-wheels and shafts.

14.. The combination with a plurality of shafts, of means for connectingthe shafts, an initial source of energy connected to one of said shafts,a plurality of air compressing cylinders arranged in series, the finatcylinder of the series being curved in form, windwheels adapted to beacted upon by the current of air passing between connected cylinders,means controlled by the pressure of the air for automatically connectingand disconnecting the Wind-wheels and shafts, oscillating leversarranged in pairs, one of said. levers being connected to the piston ofeach of the curved cylinders, and means for imparting operative movementto said oscillating levers.

15. In a device of the class specified, a pair of air-cylinders adaptedto be operated alternately, pistonsin said cylinders, mechanismoperatively connected to the pistons, a third cylinder with which bothof the alternatelyoperated cylinders communicate, a weighted piston insaid third cylinder and levers connecting the several pistons,substantially as specified.

16. In a device of the class specified, a pair of alternately-operatingpistons, cylinders in which said pistons are contained, mechanismoperatively connected to said pistons, an auxiliary cylinder incommunication with both of the first-named cylinders, a Weighted pistonin the auxiliary cylinder, and means for mechanically connecting theweighted piston to the alternately-operated pistons.

17. In a device of the class specified, the combination with a pair ofcylinders, of pistons disposed in said cylinders, mechanism operativelyconnected to said pistons, an auX- iliary cylinder in communication witha pair of cylinders, a weighted piston in said auxiliary cylinder,mechanism connecting the first-named pistons and the weighted piston toeffect an initial upward movement of the latter, a vertically-disposedpiston arranged above the auxiliary cylinder, a cylinder in which saidvertically-disposed piston is contained, a horizontally-disposedpower-cylinder adapted to receive air from the verticallydisposedcylinder, a piston in said powercylinder, mechanism operativelyconnected to said piston, and a wind-Wheel in communication with saidpower-cylinder.

18. In a device of the class specified, the combination with a pluralityof connected I of) shafts, of a series of air-cylinders, pistons Y myown I have hereto affixed my signature arranged in said cylinders,meohanism'conin the presence of two witnesses.

meeting the pistons to the shaft for opera/tin the same at differentspeeds, and means f0? OLE WAXEL' 5 equalizing the speeds and formaintaininga Witnesses:

constant speed of the final shaft of the series. IRA VAUGHAN,

In testimony that I claim the foregoing as E. P. VAUGHAN.

